Failure of switch part led to MBTA Red Line derailment

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority logo

BOSTON — A failure in a counterpin, a small switch part, led to the derailment of a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Red Line train on March 23, MBTA CEO Phillip Eng told a meeting of the agency’s board on Thursday. WCVB-TV reports the failure of that small pin allowed a larger pin connecting to a […]

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MBTA Orange Line work leads to elimination of seven speed restrictions

Crew works on track in subway tunnel

BOSTON — A four-day shutdown of Massachusetta Bay Transportation Authority’s Orange Line between Jackson Square and North Station resulted in elimination of six speed restrictions, with a seventh removed over the weekend after the conclusion of the March 18-21 suspension of service, the MBTA reports. “I’m proud of the dedicated workforce that worked in a […]

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MBTA Red Line train derails

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority logo

BOSTON — A Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Red Line train derailed this morning (Saturday, March 23) while changing tracks to accommodate a planned service shutdown, WCVB-TV reports. The incident occurred just before 6 a.m. near the Broadway station in South Boston and involved the first car of the trainset. Shuttle buses for a planned shutdown […]

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MBTA plan would introduce battery-electric equipment on one commuter rail route

Commuter rail train with purple locomotive arrives at station

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority could become the second transit agency in the U.S. to operate battery-electric commuter trains under a proposal put forth by its contract operator, Keolis, to increase service on the MBTA’s Fairmount line. Bid solicitation documents posted Friday on the MBTA website seek a fleet of battery-electric multiple unit […]

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MBTA announces April maintenance shutdowns for transit, commuter rail lines

Work crew on rail line at night

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s ongoing efforts to eliminate slow orders on its rail transit system will continue with shutdowns on the Orange, Blue, and Red lines in April, the agency has announced. Also planned are shutdowns on several commuter rail lines, one of which will last for nine days. More complete details […]

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Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor

Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, stretching between Washington, D.C. and Boston, Mass., is one of the heaviest trafficked passenger railroads in the United States. Owned by Amtrak, and operated under electric catenary, the Northeast Corridor is America’s high-speed rail mainline. Travel along with Trains.com as we go trackside in Connecticut and Rhode Island to view a parade […]

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MBTA reports another near-miss for track workers

Subway train at station

BOSTON — A group of  Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority track workers experienced another near-miss incident on March 1, the transit agency reported Thursday, the latest in a series of safety incidents that helped lead to federal oversight of the rapid transit system. The Boston Globe reports that one flagger and four track workers were involved […]

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MBTA removes 11 speed restrictions with Green Line work

Men working in subway tunnel

BOSTON — Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority work on the rapid transit Green Line in February and March removed 11 speed restrictions and made unnecessary a planned suspension of service on the C Branch this fall, the MBTA said on Monday. The C Branch outage this fall is no longer needed because work eliminated a slow […]

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No injuries reported as MBTA Green Line train derails

Detail from MBTA rail transit map

BOSTON — No injuries were reported when a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Green Line B Branch light rail train derailed today (Saturday, March 9) just west of Kenmore Station. The incident occurred hours after the line reopened after an 18-day shutdown for track maintenance. WCVB-TV reports the derailment occurred about 8:55 a.m. and led to […]

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Commuter rail workers tell MBTA they are prepared to strike

Train pulling up to the station

BOSTON — Union workers operating the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s commuter rail operator for its contract operator, Keolis, are prepared to strike over wages and other conditions, the president of one union told the MBTA’s board on Thursday. “We don’t want to strike, but we will when we are legally able to,” Transportation Workers Union […]

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MBTA sets March plans for transit, commuter rail maintenance shutdowns

Map showing a portion of MBTA rail transit system

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has announced the March schedule for shutdowns as part of its ongoing effort to eliminate slow orders on its rail transit lines, along with scheduled work on several of its commuter rail lines. Already in progress are a group of shutdowns on the B, C, and D branches […]

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Latest MBTA repair shutdown eliminates eight speed restrictions on Red Line

Two men working on track in subway tunnel

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority eliminated eight speed restrictions during a 10-day shutdown of portions of the rapid transit Red Line that concluded Feb. 14, the agency announced Friday. The latest shutdown, part of a year-long effort to eliminate slow orders on the rail network, saw the Red Line shut down completely between […]

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